Turkey refuses joint energy policy with Israel

by AA

Turkey will not co-operate with Israel on energy policy while it is attacking Gaza, Energy Minister Taner Yıldız has said. Speaking at a press conference in Ankara on Monday, Yıldız said any proposal for a natural gas pipeline between Israel and Europe, via Turkey, could not go ahead for political reasons.

He said: "An energy project's economic feasibility is also as important as its political feasibility and now, if we build a natural gas pipeline between Israel and Turkey, innocent children's blood would flow from this pipeline." Yıldız added: "Now there is an unjust situation in Gaza but if the attacks stop, Turkey could discuss energy [with Israel]."

Turkey's diplomatic relations with Israel were reduced following the 2010 Israeli attack on a Turkish aid flotilla to Gaza in which ten activists were killed.

Speaking at the same meeting, Maltese Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi said the international community and Malta felt sympathy for Gaza. He said Palestine's energy shortage had been discussed by the European Union energy ministers last month.

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